When looking for a new place, it is easy to skip ahead to neighborhoods you have heard of from friends and relatives, making it easy to miss out on those prime locations that residents keep secret. Buena Park is one of these secrets, but the cat is out of the bag and we think it is time you take a second glimpse at what you might be missing. Buena Park is a lush area of Chicago, hidden in between the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods. Bordered by W. Irving Park Rd. and W. Montrose Ave. to the South and North, respectively, and Lake Michigan and Graceland Cemetery to the East and West, Buena Park is a tiny area that boasts a suburban-like feel within the city. Here are FIVE reasons we think you’d love this neighborhood:
1: Pizza. From thin crust to the famous Chicago-style, deep dish pizzas, one thing is certain; Chicagoans love their pizza! Buena Parks hosts not one, but TWO, terrific pizza locales for your indulgence.
Bojono’s Pizzeria (http://www.bojonospizza.com): Opened in 1996, this establishment has aimed to use the freshest ingredients to create the best dishes. With hand made pastas, sauces, and crusts, you can’t go wrong with this pizza hotspot.
Michael’s Pizzeria & Tavern (http://www.michaelspizzachicago.com): This hot spot is a tradition in Chicago! Offering complimentary WiFi, this pizzeria also has 30+ HD televisions and showcases over 4000 sports events each year! This is the premier spot for those sports fanatics looking for good food and entertainment.
2: Bars/restaurants. Sometimes after a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is stand over a stove and cook dinner. Or, maybe you just want to meet some friends for a drink and socialize. No Problem, Buena Park has some great spots for you to unwind.
Holiday Club (http://www.holidayclubchicago.com): Opened in 1993, Holiday Club provides good food and cocktails while staying retro with jukebox music and an old photo booth! After a stressful day, swing to some good music and unwind here!
Bar on Buena (http://www.baronbuena.com): Opened in 2003, the Bar on Buena hoped to provide a spot for people to escape the corporate world and relax. Nine years later, with good food, drinks, and an inviting atmosphere, we’d say they succeeded.
3: World Gym (http://www.worldgym.com): How many times have we told ourselves that it is time to get in shape and join the gym? Sure, sometimes we stick to it for a while, but then the commute becomes too time consuming and we lose our steam. This franchise, built on the principal of commitment to fitness in 1976, has a location in Buena Park. With a World Gym so close, you’ll ever be far from your fitness goals in this neighborhood!
4: Uptown Library (http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/uptown): Flipping that last page of a good book is always an accomplishing feeling. Sure, we now have technologies that have created electronic copies of book, but nothing quite compares to checking out a book from the public library. The Chicago Public Library system has its Uptown branch in Buena Park, making it easy to walk over and find something good to read.
5: Green space! With the hustle and bustle of the city and work, we can sometimes forget how relaxing it is to have green space nearby. Only fitting with its name, Buena Park has its fair share of green space, allowing residents to head out and relax and escape from the city.
Buena Circle Park: located on the Western edge of this neighborhood is a fun place to take the kids or maybe set up a picnic and relax.
Lakefront Trail (http://explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/attractions/park_district/lakefront_trail_.html): What better way to enjoy your run than taking in the views of Lake Michigan from Chicago’s Lakefront Trails. Running right along Buena Park, it is easily accessible to residents of this neighborhood.
So, there is a list of five reasons we think you should broaden your apartment search to include this tiny, but vibrant neighborhood. Filled with tree lined streets between high-rises, low-rises, vintage courtyards, and large single-family homes, it isn’t hard to find your dream spot in Buena Park. Plus, this area happens to be one of the many neighborhoods we specialize in here at Apartment Savvy Chicago, so give us a call and see what’s available in Buena Park.